APG Asset Management N.V. Sells 1,949,047 Shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)

APG Asset Management N.V. lessened its stake in shares of MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA - Free Report) by 51.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,840,578 shares of the industrial products company's stock after selling 1,949,047 shares during the period. MSA Safety comprises 0.8% of APG Asset Management N.V.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. APG Asset Management N.V. owned about 4.68% of MSA Safety worth $294,652,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of MSA Safety during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $72,693,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter worth approximately $43,689,000. Copeland Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in MSA Safety during the 4th quarter valued at $29,894,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of MSA Safety by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,999,779 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $331,503,000 after purchasing an additional 173,210 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MSA Safety by 27.6% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 781,705 shares of the industrial products company's stock worth $138,658,000 after buying an additional 169,168 shares during the period. 92.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at MSA Safety

In other news, CAO Jonathan D. Buck sold 717 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $159.00, for a total transaction of $114,003.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 3,673 shares in the company, valued at approximately $584,007. This represents a 16.33 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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MSA Safety Stock Up 1.4 %

MSA traded up $2.06 during trading on Friday, reaching $143.93. 310,809 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 170,442. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.76. MSA Safety Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $127.86 and a fifty-two week high of $200.61. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $153.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $163.92. The stock has a market cap of $5.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96 and a beta of 0.97.

MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The industrial products company reported $2.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.02. MSA Safety had a return on equity of 28.64% and a net margin of 15.76%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that MSA Safety Incorporated will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

MSA Safety Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 14th were given a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.42%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. MSA Safety's dividend payout ratio is 28.29%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently weighed in on MSA. DA Davidson initiated coverage on MSA Safety in a research report on Thursday, December 19th. They set a "buy" rating and a $195.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on MSA Safety from $190.00 to $175.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $197.00.

MSA Safety Profile

MSA Safety Incorporated develops, manufactures, and supplies safety products and technology solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures in the fire service, energy, utility, construction, and industrial manufacturing applications, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries worldwide.